Bianca with Todd Parr On The Monster Mac and Cheese Party

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode, Todd Parr shares his journey to becoming an author and illustrator, inspired by his struggles in school and desire to help kids feel better about themselves. His books have clear messages of inclusivity and kindness, and the new book, The Monster Mac and Cheese Party, featuring monsters and macaroni and cheese, adds humor while reinforcing the joys that come from sharing a meal together. The conversation emphasizes the importance of kindness, self-confidence, and creating memories for families through children's books.

Todd Parr has inspired and empowered millions of children around the world with his bold images and positive messages. He is the bestselling author of more than sixty books, including The Goodbye Book, The Family Book, The I Love You Book, and It's Okay to be Different. He lives in California.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.

Order copies:

The Monster Mac and Cheese Party: Amazon⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠.

Resources:

You can visit Todd Parr at https://www.toddparr.com/.

Discussion Topics:

• Becoming an author and illustrator
• Being discovered by an editor at a licensing show in New York City
• Creating children's books based on inclusivity and kindness
• How struggling in school with dyslexia and family issues has led to writing books that help kids feel better about themselves
• Creating self-help books for kids with clear messages rather than character-driven stories
• Addressing social-emotional issues with kids is more important now than ever
• Staying true to the idea of empowering kids leads to endless possibilities for future books
• The inspiration behind the picture book, The Monster Mac and Cheese Party, and how it fits into the overall approach of creating inclusive books
• The importance of kindness, self-confidence, and being who you are